Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Values Still Matter - Show Car Products

by Bert Carson

Adrienne and I drive the Honda Elements, Endeavour and Ellie, pictured below.  Like most Element owners, we love them.  Also, like most Element owners, we are always in the market for a product that will revitalize the plastic panels (everything blue on Ellie - more difficult to see on Endeavour).  The search ended last week when I was referred to Show Car Products by one of our customers.


Endeavour (left) and Ellie (right)

He asked how I liked the Element.  I told him I loved everything about it, but I'd like to find a product that would bring the plastic panels back to life.  He suggested that I stop by Show Car Products and ask what they recommended.  

I've passed The Show Car store more times than I can count, but  never thought of stopping.  The showroom is full of products with one purpose, cleaning and restoring automobiles.  It's not easy to find a store that specialized these days.  A young man greeted me, asked if he could help, and I told him if he had something to make the panels on my Element look new, he could help.

He smiled, directed me to a shelf in the middle of the store, where he pulled down a clear bottle of equally clear liquid and said, "This is what you're looking for."  

I took the bottle from his hand, gazed at the label, Bumper Cote. I looked at the contents.  All I could tell from the examination was that Bumper Cote is thick and clear, but as I looked I felt my gut confirm what the young man had promised.

I left with a box full of Show Car products. Thirty minutes later, after using the Show Car Wash & Wax, I began applying Bumper Cote.  A few minutes, later I stepped back and took a look.

 

A picture is worth a thousand words.  Now look again at the picture of Endeavour and Ellie.  I'm sure you'll agree that the results are awesome.  But, you might be thinking, why make such a big deal out of it?  The answer is simple.  I'm tired of buying products and discovering they won't do the job, or even worse, they are misrepresented, like my two Brother Laser Printers.  

Maybe Show Car's secret is that it is a family business.  Or maybe their secret is that integrity and honesty matters more than this quarter or next quarter's profit.  Or, more likely, it's a combination of those two.

I worked for Ryder Truck Rental when Jim Ryder, the founder, was also the President and CEO. Shortly after I was promoted from Rental Manager to Sales Manager I met him.  My District Manager introduced me as "our newest Account Manager.'

Jim looked at me, smiled and said, "You'll do well as an Account Manager if
you'll just remember one thing: give the customer whatever they want.  We have accountants, office managers and billing clerks who will figure out what to charge for it."  He backed up a step, sized me up, and added, "Bert, you do that and one day it will be my pleasure to help you get into your new yellow jacket (the symbol of membership in the Ryder Round Table).  I remembered and so did Jim.

  
Show Car Products, a third generation family owned and operated business, is located in Grant, Alabama, a small town near Huntsville.  The young man who waited on me is the grandson of the founder.  He told me they had been in business forty years and had the retail store in Huntsville for seven years. I asked how business was and he said, "Great," paused, then added, "After I ran the ad."

I asked what he meant, and he explained that for years their only customers were automobile detailers and restorers. When they opened the retail outlet, the detailers told their customers only detailers were allowed to buy products there. Now, the word is slowly getting out, and their retail business is growing every month.

It does me good to find a line of products that works, and in this case, works better than other products I've tried.  My pleasure is doubled when I realize that the companies' values are directly responsible for its sales.

If you are in the market for top quality, auto appearance products, click the link:




1 comment: